An Introduction to Catholic Sacramental Theology

by Alexandre Ganoczy, William Thomas (Translator), Anthony Sherman (Translator)

Overview

Ganoczy provides a complete overview of the history of Catholic sacramental theology and a clear explanation of contemporary theological developments. The ""classical"" teaching of the Council of Trent and its later theological formulations are compared to the new theological language of the Second Vatican Council and the ""personalist"" theologies of modern thinkers such as Karl Rahner and Edward Schillebeeckx. Introduction to Catholic Sacramental Theology moves clearly from (1) a sketch of the historical development of the sacramental concept, to (2) the basic elements in a general theory of the sacraments, to (3) discussion of the individual sacraments. In the last chapter, the author introduces his own expanded understanding of the sacraments. Using the concepts of modern communication theory, he envisions the sacraments as events of communication in the life of the concrete faith community in which each sacrament has its own particular form and purpose.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781556356414
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	04/01/2008
Pages:	202
Product dimensions:	5.73(w) x 8.51(h) x 0.46(d)

About the Author

Alexandre Ganoczy was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1928. He is Professor Emeritus of Dogmatic Theology at the University of Wuerzburg, Germany. He has published numerous books, including Sprechen von Gott in heutiger Gesellschaft (1974) and Der schopferische Mensch und die Schopfung Gottes (1976).

Table of Contents

Abbreviations     vii
Introduction     1
The Concept of Sacrament in Its Historical Development     7
Fundamental Questions of Catholic Sacramental Teaching     31
Main Emphases in the Historical and Contemporary Doctrine of Individual Sacraments     69
Toward a Communications Theory of Sacraments     142
Notes     183
Bibliography     189

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Alexandre Ganoczy, one of Europe's leading theologians, has provided a much-needed introduction to the sacraments. I cannot think of anyone who would not learn something from this masterful synthesis."
—Regis A. Duffy, OFM

Editorial Reviews

"Alexandre Ganoczy, one of Europe's leading theologians, has provided a much-needed introduction to the sacraments. I cannot think of anyone who would not learn something from this masterful synthesis."
—Regis A. Duffy, OFM

From the Publisher